New Haus Construction

Deutsches Haus is returning to Mid-City! Construction is well underway at its beautiful new location on Bayou Saint John at 1700 Moss Street, New Orleans, LA 70119. Construction of the new building should be completed in Autumn 2018.

The piece of land has an interesting history. In 1884, the State of Louisiana built Camp Nicholls, a home for disabled Civil War veterans. The old oak trees on the lot are present in photos from that era. When the last veteran died in the 1940’s at the age of 106, the state used the facility for World War II social services, mostly for children. After the war, until 1977, it was a Louisiana National Guard facility. From 1977 until Hurricane Katrina, it was leased to the New Orleans Police Department for the Third District police station for the New Orleans Police Department. Deutsches Haus purchased the Moss Street lot after the State of Louisiana expropriated the original Galvez Street property to build the new Veterans Administration/University Medical Complex.

In summer 2017, the site was prepared and services brought in so that the 2017 Oktoberfest could take place at the new location. The first thing to be built was a warehouse which was built on an existing slab: not everyone is lucky enough to inherit a slab built to support Korean War era Army tanks. Construction on the Haus proper started in the winter. The foundation was completed in January 2018.

Foundation complete January 2018Steel going up late January 2018Roof trusses up. February 20, 2018Moss Street on March 5, 2018

On March 9th, a traditional German builder’s topping out ceremony, or Richtfest, was held to celebrate the completion of the roof frame and to ask for blessings and luck for the building. *More about Richtfest here*

Richtfest, March 9, 2018The roof and some walls on March 31, 2018.

A view from across the bayou shows the shape forming. It may be only basic sheathing of plywood for walls, tar paper on the roof, and air for windows, but it’s beginning to look like the artists conception of the new Haus below.

The lovely back terrace looks towards the oak trees and should be shaded in the afternoon.

Rear Terrace, May 2018

The interior photo below shows sheetrock going up. To the left is what will be a glass-fronted display case for steins and to the right is a bar.

Interior sheet rock, June 2018Front entrance. Roof shingles complete, brickwork in progress, August 2018Intricate brickwork, August 2018Chandaliers wait to be unwrapped in the Haus main hall, August 2018Hallway floor in the New Haus, August 2018Tiles behind the water fountains. August 2018Front of Haus, near completion, September 2018

Now, in October, the work that remains is detailing in the interior and waiting for inspections and permits. The exterior was cleaned up and Oktoberfest 2018 preparations took place on the lot.

Looking through the oaks and fences, towards the back of the Haus. Waiting for the party to start, October 12, 2018A few hours later. Oktoberfest 2018 under the oak trees.

Several features were saved from the Old Galvez Street Haus before it was torn down. Wood from the old bowling alley was salvaged to make bars. A telephone exchange man hole cover was saved and will be embedded in concrete at the new Haus. (The old Galvez Haus was a telephone exchange building before it became the property of Deutsches Haus.)

The Eagle from the Galvez Street Haus was placed on the new Haus roof, September 2018.Members bar: vintage beer tower and a bar surface made from bowling alley wood, both salvaged from old Galvez Street Haus

November 2018: The construction is finished. The lights are on. Grand opening November 18, 2018 on the 90th anniversary of the founding of the Deutches Haus organization.

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Mission

Deutsches Haus has grown into an organization with a mission to celebrate and foster the rich culture, musical heritage, language and history of the German people. Our Oktoberfest and Volksfest Festivals features authentic German music, food and beverages for all to enjoy, as well as activities for the kids. These events are an opportunity for our local groups to generate revenue which is used to help sustain us throughout the year and assist in sponsoring future events celebrating our German heritage. But most importantly, these festivals introduce our German heritage to the Gulf Coast population.

Deutsches Haus is a Public Charity as defined in the Internal Revenue Code Section 501(c)(3).
All donations are tax deductible to the fullest extent of the law. Consult your tax advisor.